Michael McMenamin: How Churchill Became Churchill

Rediscovering young Winston's classical liberal American mentor, Bourke Cockran.


Reason.tv's Nick Gillespie recently sat down with Reason contributing editor Michael McMenamin, co-author with Curt Zoller of 2007's Becoming Winston Churchill, now out in a paperback edition from Enigma Books. The volume promises "the untold story of Young Winston and his American mentor."

Churchill's mentor was the Irish-born New York orator and politician Bourke Cockran (1854-1923), who served in Congress and advised President Grover Cleveland. Recognized as the one of the greatest public speakers of his day (William Jennings Bryan refused to appear on the same stage with him), the classical liberal Cockran introduced Churchill to the benefits of free trade, anti-imperialism, soaring oratory, and, even more important, says McMenamin, the idea that "government is not the source of wealth...[Cockran] gave Churchill a healthy distrust of government and other organizations (like the Church of England) that could hold power over people."

Approximately 7.30 minutes. Shot by Roger M. Richards and Alex Manning; edited by Roger M. Richards.

For iPod, HD, and audio versions, go to http://reason.tv.

To buy McMenamin's book, go to http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Winston-Churchill-Untold-American/dp/192963187...

Category:

News & Politics

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• Michael McMenamin
• Winston Churchill
• reason.tv
• Nick Gillespie
• Drew Carey
• Reason Foundation
• libertarian
• biography

[GT6N8]

"For a government to think it can tax itself into prosperity, is like a man standing in a bucket thinking he can lift himself by the handles"

I agree, that quote is right on the money.

[VisitingXenoc133]

6:03

one of the best, most relevant quotes I've heard for quite awhile.

[Sierra688]

Winston Churchill was definitely a wartime consigliere.

[pinegrove33]

You guys are making some EXCELLENT videos!

[HiFiSmith]

@VisitingXenoc133: I was posting this too. I see someone beat me to it.

6:03 great quote!

[fomastephanovitch]

Harold McMillan brought socialism to england.

[Galt425]

Huh? re read some of that history. The labor movement started in the 1880's and the fabian socialists had the run of higher education there in the 1920's... the code breakers touches on Turings round with them at Oxford before Hitler was anybody. (But don't take my word for it, Mr Sherbrooke didn't pass me in that class ;)

[EvilDandy]

I recall hearing or reading somewhere that after Churchill and the Conservatives lost the post-war election to Labour and the welfare state was born, someone noted the irony that Britain was becoming the very thing it had spent the past six years fighting against -- a socialist state. Apologies for being vague.

[vonPeterhof]

"He brought socialism to england!"

You are probably confusing him with his successor Clement Attlee. Churchill praised Hayek's "Road to Serfdom" and its description of the dangers of collectivism and planning, whereas Attlee and his Labour party built much of the modern British welfare state and laid the groundwork for the post-war Keynesian consensus. It might be possible to blame Churchill for losing the 1945 general election, but not for actively bringing socialism to England.

[thomaserossi]

No he didn't.

He fought against the Fabian Socialists (Liberal Fascists) as best he could. Failing to keep the socialists from taking over was his greatest regret. He saw himself as a failure, even though he is directly responsible for saving England from fascism.

He didn't "bring socialism to England." It was in England long before Churchill was in office.

[spawk1993]

wtf? Why is winston churchilll being looked at in a favorable light by reason mag. He brought socialism to england! :(